Harper looks to Asian energy markets after Keystone delay

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told U.S. President Barack Obama at the APEC summit on Sunday that Canada will look for new markets in Asia for its oil and gas, now that the Keystone pipeline has been delayed for more than a year.

Harper made Canada's disappointment in the delay clear when the two leaders sat down for almost 30 minutes at the summit in Hawaii.

All of Canada's oil and gas exports currently go south of the border, and Keystone would transport crude from the oilsands to Texas. Now, however, Harper says the U.S. decision has left him no choice.

"I did indicate to him, as I did to the president of China yesterday [Saturday], as our government has indicated, this highlights why Canada must increase its efforts to make sure it can supply its energy outside of the United States and into Asia in particular," Harper said.

To that end, the prime minister will visit China sometime next year. As well, Canada has decided to signal formally that it is interested in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a group of Asian countries that aims to boost trade and lower tariffs in the Asia-Pacific region.

The United States has also discussed joining the TPP.

Previously, there has been resistance to Canada's participation, because of its staunch protection of the dairy, poultry and egg sectors. Harper now says he feels Canada can do both.

"We're constantly in trade talks, but I continue to believe we can advance our interests and at the same time protect our interests in those agricultural sectors," he said.

According to the White House account of the meeting, Obama said he supported the decision to delay TransCanada's Keystone XL project "to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood."

During a bilateral meeting on Saturday, Chinese President Hu Jintao noted with approval Harper's attempts to reach out, and invited him to visit next year.

"You have repeatedly stated that you attach importance to our relationship and that you hope to forge an even closer relationship with China," the Chinese president said. "I appreciate that position."

Harper also signalled that a border security deal with the U.S. is nearing conclusion. He announced that he'll visit Obama in December and the deal will be part of their discussions

The "Beyond the Border" deal was announced with much fanfare nine months ago as a way to continue to secure the borders but not choke off vital trade.

"It will be a very comprehensive package when it is announced," Harper said.

With files from Susan Lunn in Honolulu and The Canadian Press

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Japan returns to 6% growth after earthquake

Japan's economy grew for the first time in four quarters in a comeback from the earthquake and tsunami disaster that already faces multiple global headwinds.

The world's No. 3 economy expanded at an annualized rate of 6 per cent in the July-September period, driven by exports, the Cabinet Office said in a preliminary report Monday.

It was the first growth in four quarters. The result was in line with market forecasts, including Kyodo News agency's projection of 6.2 per cent annualized growth.

"Having something as strong as hoped for is really good news," said Martin Schulz, senior economist at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo. "Basically all parts of the economy were expanding. And this is extremely important because we see a slowdown internationally, which is already hitting exports."

While such a robust rebound is encouraging, it is unlikely to last.

"The situation surrounding our country's economy is becoming tougher as we see the recovery in overseas economies weakening and face the impact of the Thai flood, in addition to the yen's rapid rise," said economic and fiscal policy minister Motohisa Furukawa, according to Kyodo.

Economists expect GDP — a measure of the value of all goods and services produced domestically — to contract in the last three months of the year before turning moderately positive again next year.

Last week, Japan's lower house of parliament passed a $157 billion US extra budget to help fund recovery efforts in Japan's tsunami-battered northeast. The budget also includes measures aimed at easing pressure from the yen's recent surge.

Considered a safe haven, the Japanese currency has hit record highs against the dollar this year amid intensifying worries about Europe and the U.S. The climb is particularly painful for exporters, whose overseas earnings shrink in value when repatriated.

The new government spending should help offset weaker overseas demand, said Kyohei Morita, chief economist at Barclays Capital in Tokyo.

"We maintain our view that Japan is likely to outpace other advanced economies in 2012," Morita said in a research note Monday.

The International Monetary Fund agrees. It estimates Japan's economy will expand 2.3 per cent next year — the strongest growth forecast among the Group of Seven countries including the U.S., U.K. and Germany.

Japan's latest annualized GDP figure translates to growth of 1.5 per cent from the previous quarter, according to the Cabinet Office.

Consumer spending, which accounts for some 60 per cent of the economy, climbed 1 per cent from the previous quarter.

'Japan is likely to outpace other advanced economies in 2012'—Barclays analyst Kyohei Morita

Capital investment by companies rose 1.1 per cent. Exports jumped 6.2 per cent.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami killed thousands of people and wiped out large swathes of Japan's northeastern coast. The disasters damaged many factories in the region, causing severe shortages of parts and components for manufacturers across the country, including automakers.

The tsunami also crippled a nuclear power plant that triggered the worst nuclear crisis since Chornobyl.

Since then, the country has steadily fixed its factories and benefited from pent-up demand for Japanese goods such as cars.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s production had recovered to pre-tsunami levels by September, earlier than initial estimates. Output took another big hit due to the recent flooding in Thailand, but the automaker said last week production in Japan would return to near normal levels Nov. 21-25.

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After Steve Jobs, what now for Apple?

Since Steve Jobs' return to Apple Inc. in 1997 as CEO, the company has been on an unparalleled upswing, highlighted by the immense popularity of the iPad and iPhone.

Now, with Jobs no longer leading, Apple will have to prove it can keep its momentum. If the recent past is any indication, the company will continue to move forward.

Apple said late Wednesday that Jobs, 56, resigned from the CEO post, in a move that seems motivated by his ongoing, yet still unspecified health issues. Jobs had taken an indefinite medical leave in January, marking his third such leave in seven years. Jobs, who co-founded Apple in 1976, previously survived pancreatic cancer and received a liver transplant.

Taking on the role of board chairman, Jobs now passes the CEO role Tim Cook, 50, the company's chief operating officer. Cook had been acting CEO since January. For years, he has been running Apple's day-to-day operations, and he has long been seen as the natural successor.

He also served as Apple's leader for two months in 2004 while Jobs battled cancer and again for five-and-a-half months in 2009 when Jobs received a liver transplant. The company has thrived under Cook's leadership, briefly becoming the most valuable company in America earlier this month.

Cook is not nearly as recognizable as Jobs, who after returning from a 12-year hiatus in 1997 became the very public face of Apple, clad in his signature blue jeans, black turtleneck and wire-rimmed glasses when trotting out the company's iPhones, iPads, iPods at immensely popular and anticipated media events.

Though Jobs has looked increasingly frail, he emerged from his leave twice this year to tout products at such events: First, he unveiled the second version of Apple's iPad tablet computer in March. Then, in June, he resurfaced to show off Apple's iCloud music synching service.

But while Jobs is the most recognized person at Apple, he is not the only one responsible for the company's success. Many industry watchers believe that despite his importance, Apple will continue to innovate and not just survive, but thrive.

"Steve Jobs put in place at Apple a culture of innovation," Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross says.

And its innovation has translated to sales. With Cook running the company, Apple sold 9.25 million iPads during the most recent quarter, which ended in June, bringing sales to nearly 29 million iPads since they first began selling in April 2010. Apple also sold 20.3 million iPhones in the same period, which was millions more than analysts expected. The company's stock has risen 8 per cent since Jobs announced his most recent medical leave.

The iPad is one of many devices that has helped propel Apple's share price from $9 US in 2000 to almost $400 US today. (Associated Press)

Cook's track record at Apple is strong. The first time he was in charge back in 2004, things went so well that Apple promoted him from executive vice-president to chief operating officer in 2005.

During the second time, which lasted from mid-January to the end of June 2009, Apple released a new version of the iPhone and updated laptop computers on schedule. The company also announced that its iTunes app store hit a major milestone: More than one billion apps were downloaded within the first nine months of its existence.

Apple's stock rose 62 per cent during that time, satisfying investors' concerns over Jobs' absence.

Cook, an Alabaman with short, grey hair and a broad, thin-lipped smile, has been an asset to Apple since his arrival in 1998. He is credited with tuning Apple's manufacturing process to solve chronic product delays and supply problems. His inventory management skills helped Apple build up its $73 billion hoard of cash and marketable securities — funds that it can use to keep its lead in the portable electronics market.

'Steve Jobs put in place at Apple a culture of innovation'—Apple analyst Shannon Cross

Like IBM, McDonald's or Ford, all of which lost visionary CEOs, Apple is not necessarily dependent on the immortality of the genius behind it, says Terry Connelly, dean of the Ageno School of Business at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

"A company is dependent on its ability to institutionalize that genius in the corporate DNA," he says. "Apple shows every sign of having done that. We will see that when we see how Cook responds to competitive pressure."

And, as Cross points out, Cook won't be leading Apple alone. His supporting team includes Jonathan Ive, who oversees the elegant, minimalist design of Apple's products; Philip Schiller, the marketing chief; and Scott Forstall, who supervises the iPhone software.

"The bench at Apple is extremely strong," Cross says. "He has a good group of executives behind him."

And consumers — the group Apple really depends on to make its products popular — may not be that affected by the change.

Apple customers don't buy the company's products because of Steve Jobs, Gartner Research analyst Michael Gartenberg says, they buy Apple products because they're Apple products. Without Jobs, he believes the company's challenge will be the same as it was with him: continuing to find ways to raise the bar with its consumer electronics.

"Yes, this is quite some transition at the end of Steve's role and his time at Apple, but it doesn't mean Apple itself will fundamentally change," he says. "Certainly Apple's competition would be foolish to think this is a situation they could somehow capitalize on."

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World stocks lose steam after German economy stalls

World stock markets lost steam Tuesday after Germany's economic growth came to a near-standstill in the second quarter, adding to fears that the global economy is slowing down.

Oil prices hovered near $87 a barrel in Asia. The dollar was higher against the yen and the euro.

European shares tumbled in early trading after data showed that Germany, Europe's biggest economy, grew just 0.1 per cent in the second quarter, sharply below expectations. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.4 per cent to 5,275.73. Germany's DAX dropped 2.6 per cent to 5,866.26 and France's CAC-40 lost 2.2 per cent to 3,168.14.

Wall Street was also headed for a lower opening, with Dow Jones industrial futures down one per cent to 11,293 and S&P 500 futures down 1.3 per cent at 1,182.30.

The U.S. economy also is growing at a far slower rate than previously thought. The Federal Reserve last week decided to keep interest rates extremely low for two more years, saying it expected the economy to remain weak for that period.

Meanwhile, figures Monday showed Japan's economy contracted further in the second quarter in the wake of March's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Earlier in the day, Asian shares traded higher on the heels of a round of corporate deals in the U.S. that lifted Wall Street higher.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.2 per cent to close at 9,107.43.

South Korea's Kospi jumped 4.8 per cent to 1,879.87 following a public holiday, with steelmaker POSCO soaring 7.4 per cent.

Benchmarks in the Philippines, Malaysia and New Zealand were also higher.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.2 per cent to 20,212.08. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.8 per cent to 4,247.30 as Westpac Banking Corp. tumbled 4.4 per cent and dragged down other financials.

Australian flagship carrier Qantas Airways dipped 0.3 per cent after it announced plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as part of a major shake-up of its international business.

'There are still a lot of uncertainties that are keeping investors on the sidelines.'—Kwong Man Bun, COO, KGI Securities in Hong Kong

Mainland Chinese shares snapped a five-session winning streak as investors cashed in on recent gains.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.7 per cent to 2,608.17 and the Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.7 per cent to 1,166.84.

"The market might be just correcting after investors think things over, but the loss today after yesterday's gain means there is no strong momentum of support," said Yang Yining, an analyst at Capital-edge Investment & Management Co. in Shanghai.

Asian technology shares got a boost from news Monday that Google is buying wireless phone maker Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion US in cash, the largest deal ever for Google. Japanese memory chip maker Elpida Memory Inc. rose 5.1 per cent. Samsung Electronics gained 6.1 per cent and Hynix Semiconductor was up 3.8 per cent.

The Google announcement, along with several other acquisitions announced in the U.S. the same day, helped restore confidence in risky assets because such deals are interpreted as a sign that companies are more confident about the future.

But analysts were cautious about reading too much into Tuesday's stock gains.

"It's still too early to say whether this is a reversal of the previous downward trend. There are still a lot of uncertainties that are keeping investors on the sidelines," said Kwong Man Bun, chief operating officer at KGI Securities in Hong Kong.

The Dow rose or fell by at least 400 points on four straight days last week for the first time ever amid fears the U.S. economy could slide back into recession.

Higher oil and gold prices also helped the Toronto Stock Exchange post a strong advance Monday, buildng on gains made during last week's wild swings on global markets.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 141.41 points, or 1.13 per cent, at 12,683.61. The heavily-weighted energy sector rose 1.5 per cent on the strength of higher oil prices. September oil gained $2.50 to close at $87.88 US a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

S&P/TSX composite index 1-month chart The TSX financial index was 1.0 per cent higher.

Golds advanced as bullion futures surged $15.20 US an ounce to $1,755.50 an ounce.

But more swings could come this week.

Leaders of France and Germany meet Tuesday to discuss Europe's debt problems. Spain and other countries have borrowed so much that they may need help to repay their bills.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.2 per cent to 9,101.53. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.4 per cent to 20,343.39, as a visit by Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang raised hopes for an announcement from Beijing that would be favourable to the territory.

South Korea's Kospi jumped 4.5 per cent to 1,873.22 following a public holiday, with steelmaker POSCO soaring 7.7 per cent.

Benchmarks in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia were also higher.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.7 per cent to 4,253.80 as Westpac Banking Corp. tumbled 4.4 per cent and dragged down other financials. Australian flagship carrier Qantas Airways rose 1.4 per cent after it announced plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as part of a major shakeup of its international business.

Mainland Chinese shares and Taiwan's TAIEX were also lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial rose for the third day in a row Monday, closing up 1.9 per cent at 11,482.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 2.2 per cent to 1,204.49.

Benchmark oil for September delivery was down 53 cents to $87.32 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Crude surged $2.50 to settle at $87.88 on Thursday.

In London, Brent crude for October delivery was down 46 cents to $109.38 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

The euro dropped to $1.4425 from $1.4451 in late trading in New York. The U.S. dollar strengthened to 76.83 yen from 76.78 yen, while the Canadian dollar added 1.11 cents to 102.05 cents US.

With files from CBC News Back to accessibility links

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Gold Hits All-Time Highs After Bernanke Comments On Stimulus

Jul. 13 2011 - 2:21 pm | 0 views | 0 recommendations |

(Kitco News) – The Federal Reserve has indicated for the second day in a row that further stimulus measures are possible to help jump-start the U.S. economy, propelling gold to an all-time high.

The Fed has not actually announced any new measures and is still monitoring the economy to see whether they are even necessary. But for now, the gold market is factoring in further debasement of the U.S. dollar, analysts said.

News that the Fed is at least thinking about further stimulus comes at a time when the yellow metal is already underpinned by European debt issues and political deadlock in the U.S. on raising the debt ceiling ahead of an early-August target to avoid a default.

August gold has peaked so far Wednesday at $1,588.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, a record for a most-active contract. As of 1:08 p.m. EDT, it was up $23.10, or 1.5%, to $1,585.40 an ounce. Spot gold was $18.60 higher at $1,585.90 an ounce.

The next obvious target for the market is the next big round number of $1,600 an ounce.

“The way we’ve been trading the last couple of days, we (could be) five minutes away,” said Mike Daly, gold and silver specialist with PFGBEST.

The Fed last month said that it was not embarking upon a third round of purchases of Treasury securities in a move to push down long-term yields, referred to as quantitative easing. The second round of QE ended June 30. However, minutes of the June 21-22 meeting of the FOMC, released Tuesday afternoon, showed that a minority is at least considering further action.

Then in congressional testimony Wednesday morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in essence confirmed that policy-makers are considering more easing. He said economic weakness may be more persistent than expected, “implying a need for additional policy support.” He also said the Fed is contemplating several “untested” steps to revive the economy.

Thus, markets went from thinking not long ago there would be no further stimulus to now thinking there very well may be, Daly said.

“It’s called many things, but any form of printing of money is obviously dilutive of the dollar, and that’s obviously good for gold,” said Jeff Clark, precious-metals analyst with Casey Research. “That’s the primary reason why gold is moving.”

Of course, the Fed has not embarked upon further stimulus yet. Time will tell whether it happens.

“But there is an obvious indication they are contemplating it. Let’s put it that way,” Clark said. He later added: “The markets are interpreting that as they likely will. And therefore, gold is up.”

Not only is gold up and the dollar down, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average is around 120 points higher on the prospects for more stimulus measures.

Any further easing also adds to worries about inflation, said Daly and George Gero, vice president with RBC Capital Markets Global Futures. Already, China is trying to contain inflation fueled in part by high commodity prices, Daly added.

Mark Johnson, portfolio co-manager with the USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund, pointed out that the FOMC minutes released Tuesday left the door open for the Fed to either loosen or tighten policy down the road. Policy-makers have given themselves considerable flexibility, he suggested.

“I think you have to look beyond the statements at the underlying conditions,” he said. “And the underlying economic conditions would basically argue there is going to be no tightening any time soon.”

This implies continued negative real interest rates, which in turn debases the dollar and creates a favorable environment for gold, he said.

“If you couple that with the continued deterioration of the sovereign-debt issues in Europe, you’ve got another driver for gold, as people continue to question the long-term viability of the euro,” Johnson said.

European finance officials have been providing bailout loans while encouraging troubled nations to undertake austerity measures. Analysts often describe the net effect as “kicking the can down the road,” since countries are in essence borrowing money to meet debt obligations.

“They continue to kick the can down the road, but the can is getting bigger and heavier,” Johnson said. “At some point when they kick it, they are going to break their feet.”

Meanwhile, Daly said, the market is only a month or two from the period when it tends to draw seasonal support from gift-giving holidays. A number of important holidays occur in autumn in India, a significant gold consumer, followed by the Christmas season in Western nations.

The buying is accelerating on technical chart factors, Gero said.

“It looks like we’re just off to the races,” he said. “The Bernanke remarks are playing a role in getting both the technical traders and fundamental traders involved.”

The most recent FOMC developments are bullish for gold in both the short and long term, Clark said. But “that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a straight line up,” he added.

He and Johnson said whenever Washington finally reaches an agreement on the debt ceiling, the metal will probably dip. “Any time you take a risk factor of the table, you would expect gold to soften,” Johnson said. Still, he and Clark said this is likely to be only a temporary setback.

“That won’t solve our structural debt, deficit and money-printing problems,” Clark said. “So in the long term, this is nothing but positive for gold.”

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

http://www.kitco.com/

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Gold hits all-time highs after Bernanke comments on stimulus

Jul 13 2011-2: 21 pm | 0 views | 0 Recommendations |

(Kitco News) - The Federal Reserve has indicated for the second day in a row, that further measures to stimulate the possible to help assist with the US economy are driving gold to an all-time high.

The Fed has announced not actually no new action and is still monitoring the economy, whether they are even necessary. But at the moment, the gold market is factoring in further humiliation of the US dollar, analysts said.

Messages that is thought the fed at least of more stimulus comes at a time when the yellow metal debt and political gridlock in the United States on the increase of the debt is reinforced ceiling already by European before of a beginning August target to avoid a default.

August gold has so far Wednesday at $1,588.70 an ounce on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, a record for the most active contract reached. 1:08 Am EDT it was up to $23.10 or 1.5% to $1,585.40 an ounce. $18.60 Spot gold was higher at $1,585.90 an ounce.

The next obvious target for the market is oz the strong round of $1600.

"How have we been trade in the last few days, we (could be) five minutes," said Mike Daly, gold and silver specialist with PFGBEST.

The Fed said last month that it not on a third round of the purchases of government bonds in a move restrict long-term income, called quantitative easing which has been taken. The second round of QE June 30 ended. Minutes of the meeting of June 21-22 of the FOMC, published in the Tuesday afternoon, showed however that a minority is considering at least further action.

Then testimony confirmed Wednesday morning Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke primarily in Congress, that policy makers are considering more relaxation. He said that economic weakness may be more persistent than expected "implies a need for additional policy support.", he also said that the Fed is to look at several "untested" steps to revive the economy.

Markets went from think not not long ago it said further momentum so far very well it can think would Daly.

"It's called many things, but every form of printing money is obviously dilutive of the dollar and this is of course good for gold,", said Jeff Clark, precious metals analyst at Casey Research. "This is the main reason why gold is moved."

Of course the Fed has embarked on yet further impetus. Time will tell whether it is done.

"But an obvious indication that they are to look at it there." Let us say so, "Clark said. Later he added: "the markets are interpret as she probably will." "And that is why gold is up."

Not only gold is up and the dollar down, but the Dow Jones industrial average is around 120 points higher on the prospects for more stimulus measures.

Any further easing also added worry about inflation, said Daly and George Gero, Vice President at RBC capital markets global futures. Already, China tries the inflation fueled in part by high commodity prices added included Daly.

Mark Johnson, portfolio co-manager who dismissed USAA precious metals and minerals Fund, pointed out that the FOMC minutes Tuesday left the door released open for the fed to loosen or to tighten up policy on the road. Policy makers are considerable flexibility gave, he hit.

"I think you have the instructions for the underlying conditions to look,", he said. "And the business environment would claim basically will there be no tightening anytime soon."

This implies negative real interest rates further, which debases the dollar and created a favourable environment for gold, he said.

"If you, with the continued deterioration of the sovereign debt link problems in Europe, you have another driver for gold, since further to ensure the long-term viability of the euro in question people", said Johnson.

European financial officials who offers bailout loans while encouraging troubled Nations to carry out austerity measures. Analysts often describe on the net as "can occur on the road, the" effect, as countries are in the main bond money debt obligations to meet.

"she continue to the can on the street kick, but the can is getting bigger and heavier," said Johnson. "At some point if they it kick, they go to their feet to break."

Meanwhile, Daly said the market is from only a month or two of the time when it tends to draw seasonal gift holiday support. A number of important holidays occur in autumn in India, a major gold consumers followed by the Christmas season in Western countries.

The purchase of technical chart factors is acceleration, Gero said.

"It looks like we are before the race," he said. "The Bernanke comments play a role in getting the technical dealer and basic dealer involved."

The latest FOMC developments in the short and long term are bullish for gold, Clark said. But ", this does not mean that it is a straight line up to be," he added.

He and Johnson the metal said diving when Washington finally becomes an agreement on the debt reached ceiling, probably. "Every time if you take a risk factor of the table to mitigate gold would expect," said Johnson. Still, he and Clark said that this will be only a temporary setback.

"That will solve our structural debt, deficit and money printing problems is not," Clark said. "So in the long run this is nothing but positive for gold."

By Allen Sykora by Kitco news; asykora@Kitco.com

http://www.Kitco.com /.

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Japanese reactors at idle to start after the stress test

Japanese reactors at idle to start the stress of of Japan after the end of the test, the idled nuclear reactors could be used to continue the activities passed the stress test must be carried out to guarantee the security, safety and reassure Fukushima-disasters, the Government said early Monday.

The age of four months following the disaster, Fukushima plant, which is still leaking radiation, has sparked a public debate of nuclear energy for earthquake repair systems, enhancement of resource poor Japan, which for almost 30% of the electricity supply before the crisis to rely on the power of the Atomic role. It has also highlighted the shortage of active, potentially damaging to the company in Japan, where the reactor is now off-line inspection and service cannot be started again in Prospect. Stress tests, the second stage of the implementation of the announced suddenly last week, includes a comprehensive assessment of the safety of nuclear power in all of Japan, the Government statement added.

A sudden shift in policy, Prime Minister Naoto Kan-on-fire under his handling of the nuclear crisis--said last week that the Japanese to administer them is made in the EU after the tsunami meltdowns, Fukushima Daiichi atomic power plant crippled, is clearly modeled by a nuclear stress tests.
The move was praised by critics, who charged the Japanese safety regulations were too lax, but also the power shortages, which stretch into the summer of 2012, and might harm the risk of industrial production.

Japanese utilities are now acting as the country 54 reactors on 19. The Government had been in the main room, which is ready for the regular checks on the power to avoid the crunch starts at an early stage, but some local authorities, whose approval is required by a custom policy option and outraged, were told they could Give their OK, until the Government clarifies its position.

Kan has fixed the blank-slate review of Japan's energy policy, which in the disasters of the 11 March, was the aim was to improve the nuclear share of electricity supply up to 50% by 2030.

He also wants to raise the share of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy more than 20 percent, according to the 2020s and made to promote such energy sources in the passage of the Bill as an alternative to keeping the promise to deliver.
Already the fifth Japanese, Director of the unpopular premier survived five years of the n: o's confidence in the vote, according to the last month of his Democratic Party, to the younger generation take the reins handed to a system of gross reserving but it has refused to specify when he will step down.

on 13 July, to try to revive the local beach the famous surfers paradise estate are banding together in the wreckage that washed during training 11. in March, after the tsunami, and clear the debris. Namiita beach is a lot of opportunities for young people attracted the Otsuchicho contributed to the recent issue of new ryhtiä in the city, which was struggling to population ageing and inadequate to undertakings in the fisheries sector. Local surfers at the beach you want to restore the former glory the pulsating city of aid, the impact of their efforts in the reconstruction in the hope of a whole. Strewn along the 800-meter-long beach had been destroyed, small boats, furniture, clothes, and the occasional pillars of household goods. (Yomiuri)
to July 12, the pinku eiga ", i.e., the pink films in the soft core porn genre has dabbled more in mid-1990s, there only about every theme imaginable, including incest, adultery and Erotic torture-to raise the screen. Yet this year's fantasia "underwater love", "the veteran Director, Shinji Imaoka, pink, probably after the Fading genre interweave singing and dancing in the Numerosarjat political musical, a resource manager, becomes the first film. Screening for foreign correspondents last week in the Japanese Press Club, after the Director of the Commerce that this unique approach, as well as other films, what features of the mythical kappa creature, such as the tortoise shell and the cam, the man is likely to lead to slightly easier the challenging development projects and the specific features of filmgoers (Tokyo Reporter)

on 11 July, the rain season seems to be through the quake hit areas of the northeastern region of Tohoku in Japan, with a full summer season than in the earlier entry of normal, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said Monday the Japanese archipelago. At the end of the season in the rain is due 14 days earlier than usual and the fourth record as quickly as possible, and the southern Tohoku, and 17 days earlier than usual, and the third store soon, for the purpose of the Tohoku Northern continues to the Agency to the weather, which started to produce information in 1951.

(Kyodo) on 11 July, the 27-year-old man was sentenced to 28 years in prison Monday in the robbery and rape cases, where eight junior and Kagawa Prefecture senior high school students for the string. Demonstration of the judge-owned trail District Court case, has been found guilty of assaulting Onishi Makoto schoolgirls Marugame, Kagawa October 2009 and August 2010, between their bicycles and stealing them raping. The presiding judge, Katsuyuki Habata said, "the victim suffered a rampage that suddenly their lives" to reject the defence plea, Assistant.

(Kyodo) 11 popular in Japan, in July, the son of the Japanese destroyer Arashi, the band attract more visitors to the pitch Monday in the middle of the tourist numbers to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Northeastern Japan, exactly four months ago, continuously in the nuclear crisis, the decline in the country., deriving from the Entitled "message to the originating from Japan," featuring five members of the pop idol group, began broadcasting at the same time, the film throughout the world for more than 133 countries and regions, including the use of the Outdoor display is New York's Times Square. The Video material was also broadcast in places such as Seoul and London, and also appears in Japanese airports and embassies worldwide in the coming weeks. (Kyodo)

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